Connor is a sixteen-year-old boy whose parents decide to have him unwound due to his impulsive behavior and history of fighting in school. Upon discovering his fate, his rebellious nature pushes him to execute a daring escape that triggers a massive police chase. He possesses a strong sense of morality and justice, often acting before he thinks, which regularly places him in danger.

Risa is a ward of the state raised in a government home. Despite her talent as a pianist, budget cuts lead the administration to order her unwinding. She is highly observant, logical, and protective, often acting as a grounding force for her companions during their chaotic escape. She relies on her sharp instincts to assess threats and navigate the fugitive underground.

Lev is a thirteen-year-old boy raised in a devoutly religious family to be a tithe, a willing sacrifice given to the unwinding process. He expects to fulfill his holy calling until he is violently kidnapped from his transport vehicle. The disruption of his life forces him to reevaluate his upbringing, his faith, and his intrinsic value as a human being.

CyFi is a runaway teenager who received a temporal lobe transplant from an unwound boy. The transplant causes him to experience split impulses, frequently flashing back to memories and emotions that do not belong to him. He operates with a strict moral code regarding theft, constantly battling the destructive urges of the brain tissue inside his head as he travels toward Missouri.

Roland is a physically imposing runaway Unwind marked by a prominent tiger shark tattoo. He was sent to be unwound after violently beating his abusive stepfather to protect his mother, only for his mother to side with the abuser. He thrives on manipulation, preferring to control situations and exert dominance over vulnerable teenagers through intimidation and social engineering.

The Admiral is a former military officer who fought in the Heartland War. He operates a massive, clandestine safe haven in a desert airplane graveyard to harbor runaway Unwinds until they turn eighteen. He enforces ten strict rules to maintain order and demands hard work from the teenagers in exchange for keeping them alive.

Sonia is an elderly woman who runs an antique store that serves as a secret waystation for runaway Unwinds. She challenges the teenagers to write letters to the people they love, offering them a quiet space to process their complicated emotions before shuffling them to the next safe house.

Pastor Dan is a religious leader who guides Lev through his spiritual preparation for unwinding. During Lev's chaotic kidnapping, he acts completely against expectations, shouting at the boy to run away rather than embrace the sacrifice the church planned for him.

Ariana is Connor's girlfriend from his hometown. She initially agrees to run away with him to escape his unwinding order, but backs out at the last minute when he shows up at her house, leaving him to flee into the night entirely alone.

Hayden is a philosophical runaway Unwind who enjoys debating the morality of life and the soul. He uses dark humor and probing questions to cope with the grim reality of the harvest camps, frequently provoking deep conversations among his peers while trapped in confined spaces.

Emby is a timid runaway Unwind whose real name is Zachary. He suffers from asthma, which makes his survival journey particularly difficult. He tries to keep his head down at the Graveyard but eventually draws unwanted attention from the leadership.

Mai is a quiet, intense runaway Unwind who travels through the safe house network alongside Connor, Risa, and Roland. She harbors deep anger regarding her fate and aligns herself with radical figures in the underground movement.

Blaine is a runaway Unwind who aligns with a radical cell. He harbors intense anger against the unwinding system and prepares to take extreme measures to send a permanent message to society.

Tyler is a boy whose parents signed his unwinding order due to behavioral issues. Part of his temporal lobe is transplanted into CyFi, causing his lingering fears, memories, and desperate desire to return to Joplin, Missouri, to merge with CyFi's consciousness.

Mr. Durkin is Risa's music instructor at the state home. He acts as a father figure to her, but his absence when she is abruptly sent away to be unwound leaves her feeling deeply abandoned.

The Storked Baby is a newborn infant legally abandoned on a doorstep. Connor insists on rescuing her, utilizing her as a disguise to board a school bus while Risa reluctantly steps into the role of her caretaker.

The Mother is a nineteen-year-old girl who legally abandons her newborn baby on a stranger's doorstep to escape the responsibility of parenthood.

Connor's Parents are suburban adults who secretly sign the order to have their son unwound due to his difficult behavior. They arrange a family vacation to ensure they are completely absent when the authorities arrive to collect him.

Lev's Parents are devoutly religious individuals who willingly offer their youngest son as a tithe, firmly believing they are participating in a holy sacrifice mandated by their faith.

Lev's Brother is Lev's older sibling who violently disagrees with the family's decision to tithe Lev. He loudly criticizes their parents during a formal dinner, pointing out the hypocrisy of their actions.

Tyler's Parents are a couple who decided to unwind their son due to his behavioral problems. They are unexpectedly confronted by CyFi, who arrives at their home driven by their unwound son's lingering brain impulses.

Roland's Mother is a victim of domestic abuse who chooses to protect her abusive husband rather than her son. When Roland violently defends her, she allows him to be sent to a harvest camp.

Roland's Stepfather is a violent man who frequently abuses his wife. He suffers a severe beating from Roland, leading to the teenager's unwinding order.

The Teacher is a school staff member who discovers the runaways hiding in the lab. Against her legal obligations, she risks her career and freedom to help Connor and Risa escape to a local antique shop.

The Cop is a law enforcement officer who pursues Connor across the highway and into the woods. He is ambushed and shot with his own tranquilizer gun by the very teenager he is hunting.

The Pawnbroker is a shop owner who attempts to exploit Lev when the boy brings in a stolen diamond bracelet. He leads Lev to a back room, expecting an easy transaction, but ends up beaten and robbed.